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Three Soils, Three Pots is a free printable Grade 2 science worksheet on testing three soils to find the one best suited to growing seeds, aligned to NGSS performance expectation 2-PS1-2. It prints 7 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

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Three Soils, Three Pots

2-PS1-2

NameDate

Read the record, then answer the questions.

1.Read the record, then answer the questions.

Three Soils, Three Pots

Three pots of soil, each sown with five bean seeds and given the same cup of water every two days for three weeks. THREE SOILS AFTER THREE WEEKS Sand: gritty to touch; water ran straight through; dry on top within a day; 2 small seedlings Clay: sticky and smooth when wet; water sat on top for an hour; still soggy; 1 seedling Garden soil: crumbly; water soaked in slowly; damp but not soggy; 5 tall green seedlings A worm was found in the garden soil only. Same seeds, same pots, same windowsill, same water.

  1. 1. How did the clay feel when wet?
  2. 2. Which soil held water without getting soggy?
  3. 3. How many seedlings grew in the garden soil?
  4. 4. Why did the sand dry out so fast?
2.Why should every pot get the same water in a soil test?
  • A.So only the soil is different
  • B.Because water is free
  • C.So the pots look the same
3.Why can roots rot in heavy clay?
  • A.Clay is too light
  • B.Clay can stay soggy, so the roots get too little air
  • C.Clay is too dry
4.Which soil would you choose for a tray of seeds?
  • A.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
  • B.Wet clay that stays soggy
  • C.Dry sand that water runs through
5.How does sand feel when you rub it between your fingers?
  • A.Gritty
  • B.Silky
  • C.Sticky
6.Why are worms good for soil?
  • A.They make it dry
  • B.They make it sandy
  • C.They mix it and make tunnels that let air and water in
7.Soil with rotting leaves mixed in grows strong plants. Why?
  • A.The leaves keep the sun off
  • B.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water
  • C.The leaves make the soil sandy

LessonPrint · 2-PS1-2 · Set 10 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Three Soils, Three Pots

Set 10. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Sticky and smooth. 2. The garden soil, which stayed damp but not soggy. 3. 5 tall green seedlings. 4. Water ran straight through the gritty sand.
  2. 2.So only the soil is different
  3. 3.Clay can stay soggy, so the roots get too little air
  4. 4.Crumbly soil that holds water but does not go soggy
  5. 5.Gritty
  6. 6.They mix it and make tunnels that let air and water in
  7. 7.The rotting leaves add food to the soil and help it hold water

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to 2-PS1-2 of the Next Generation Science Standards.